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THE ORTHODOX PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM PAYS MORE THAN $600,000 TO PROTECT JAFFA GATE PROPERTIES

Jerusalem 1-25-2021

Upon the instructions of His Beatitude Theophilos III, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem deposited this morning the sum of two millions and 100,000 Israeli shekels (more than $600,000) into the Israeli Jerusalem District Court, to cover the entire rent value of the Jaffa Gate’s Imperial Hotel. This comes as part of the Patriarchate’s efforts to protect the Imperial, which is subject of the ongoing court case regarding the suspicious Jaffa Gate deal dispute by the Ateret Cohanim radical organization.

The Patriarchate of Jerusalem considered that this deposit is a pre-emptive and preventive measure aimed at countering any allegation by the radical organization against the protected tenants. The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem affirmed that it will not spare any effort or money in protecting the properties of the Jaffa Gate, which is the historical gateway for the pilgrims of the Holy Land to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the rest of the holy sites in Jerusalem.

The Patriarchate also stressed in a statement issued today that the protection of its properties and holy sites needs stability, steadfastness and great financial resources, which is what the Patriarchate of Jerusalem is working to achieve with the aim of preserving the authentic Christian presence in the Holy Land. The Patriarchate emphasized that it will continue its legal and lobbying efforts, locally and internationally, to protect its properties and holy shrines.